Blue India Underwater Photography Competition is an initiative of ReefWatch Marine Conservation that combines ocean awareness and creativity. Blue India aims to create a unified platform for artists who are ocean lovers and vice versa.

This multidisciplinary contest is the first of its kind in India that invites photographers and filmmakers to present their work and experiences from across the country.

Entries for this year's competition are closed. Results will announced soon. You can take a look at last year's winners here.

Mission

India has a coastline of 7500 km where maritime culture is flourishing, however, traditionally we are intimidated by the ocean and rarely venture into the deep waters. Blue India will raise consciousness amongst the people towards greater care and protection of our oceans and encourage ocean sports such as diving, surfing and sailing to a larger audience. The main focus of this competition is documentation of the ocean environment of India, where underwater photographers and videographers become the voice for our marine environment, in the way that wildlife photographers have become for our terrestrial forests. In addition to creating a community of ocean lovers, the objective of Blue India is to build a ‘documentation bank’. ReefWatch can use this to further their marine conservation efforts by obtaining records of animal sightings in various parts of the ocean based on the geo-locator facility in the entries.

Categories

Photography

UNDER 18

This category has been included to encourage young ocean explorers to express their creativity through underwater photography. There are no restrictions on the type of camera used or lenses. Candidates must be under 18 years of age as of April 2018. For more details on the rules & regulations on this category

CONSERVATION

When it comes to communicating human induced threats and pressures on sea life and marine ecosystems, a picture speaks a thousand words. Under this category we invite submissions that use powerful imagery to communicate important conservation issues affecting our oceans like overfishing, entanglements, marine litter and climate change. For more details on the rules & regulations on this category

GENERAL

Under this category, we look for submissions of any well-composed, technically strong underwater images (for example seascapes, reefscapes, fish portraits, schools of fish, marine megafauna or close ups). We welcome pictures taken with a compact/point and shoot camera as well as DSLRs. For more details on the rules & regulations on this category

Film/Video

4 MIN VIDEO

Submissions under this category can be any video less than 4 minutes long with at least 70% shot underwater. The video can be a compilation of your favourite footage or tell a story. You are free to use music, voice-overs, supers or any editing tools so long as all extraneous material used is properly credited and necessary permissions are taken. For detailed rules & regulations

RULES & REGULATIONS

Terms & Conditions

By entering the competition, each entrant warrants that:

Their entry or entries are their own original work.

All details provided with their entry are true and accurate.

They have all necessary rights and authorities to grant ReefWatch Marine Conservation the rights granted under these rules.

Use of their entry by ReefWatch Marine Conservation, in accordance with these rules, will not infringe the rights of any third party.

Their entry does not breach any law.

The award of any prize to them would not breach any law.

This competition is open only to Indian Nationals.

Blue India competition is open to candidates of all skill levels.

All submitted images and videos must be original work by the entrant. We will reach out to short-listed candidates for unedited/RAW formats of their images to prove that it is their original work. Any submission deemed to be plagiarized will be immediately disqualified.

Short-listed candidates might be asked for proof of nationality and/or age if needed.

The entrant is required to provide a unique title and description for each image submitted.

All entrants retain copyrights to their images and videos.

ReefWatch Marine Conservation and selected competition partners retain the right to publish the selected contest entries in print or online and to promote future events.

All images need to have been taken underwater, except when noted otherwise in a category description.

Candidates are allowed to use natural light and/or artificial lights such as strobes and flashes.

Entries may have been taken from any camera – point and shoot, DSLRs, etc.

It is not mandatory for applicants to be certified divers.

All decisions by the jury or ReefWatch Marine Conservation will be final.

All entrants will be approached impartially.

Winners will be notified by email or phone. We will try both these methods of communication and if we have not had a response from the winner within a two-week period, we will choose a new winner. Winning prizes cannot be exchanged for the cash equivalent or for an alternative in any circumstance.

Each entrant acknowledges and agrees that:

ReefWatch Marine Conservation may disclose an entrant’s personal information to its employees, contractors, partners, and agents to assist in the conduction of the competition.

The names of prize winners and awardees may be published in accordance with these rules.

ReefWatch Marine Conservation may use entrants’ personal information for any promotional, marketing and publicity purposes, subject to privacy and spamming laws as they apply.

ReefWatch Marine Conservation reserves the right to reproduce or publically display and/or publish winning images. Credit will be given to all entrants.

ReefWatch Marine Conservation has the authority to deem any entry void if our wild life photography ethics are not adhered to.

Entrants are encouraged to edit submitted images to present it at its best. This might include but is not limited to editing for colour, contrast, sharpness, vibrancy, clarity and composition. However, we will not accept images with major edits that include removing or adding major elements, compositing of two different images etc.

All entries must come via the application form, with all the requested details provided.

Under no circumstance will ReefWatch Marine Conservation be liable for any:

Lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete submissions.

Injury or damage to any participant or to any computer related to, resulting from or in connection with the contest.

Timelines

Applications open on 1st April 2018.

All entries must be received before 1st July 2018.

All winners will be announced by 31st July 2018.

Photo Submission Rules

The following rules are the general rules that all entrants under the photography category must follow. Please also read the rules specific to the category you wish to enter under and our conservation guidelines.

Entries must be submitted in JPEG format and should be sized to 2000 kb / 2 mb per image. However, please also retain the higher resolution image – if we need this to be enlarged and printed, we will reach out to the entrant.

You may submit as many entries per contest as you wish, unless specifically mentioned otherwise in the contest specific rules.

You will be able to upload only one image at a time using the website’s upload function.

Images can be uploaded based on category (Under 18, Conservation, General). So multiple images can be in one category or one image per category.

All images must include the EXIF metadata and have the following details:

Name of candidate

Place and time

Title and description of the submitted photograph or artwork

Environmental conditions

Device/ Camera used

Lens, extension tubes, filters, reversing ring, etc used

Exposure and / or additional equipment

Category

Photographs previously submitted to Blue India should not be re-submitted.

All submitted photos must contain the original EXIF metadata information. However there must be no border(s), logo(s), copyright marks, identifying marks, or any other visible references and/or marks on the image.

Video Submission Rules

Entrant must submit Youtube / Vimeo / URL link to the video and please mention a password if applicable.

Each video must be 4 minutes or less.

If music is used, it must be properly credited and royalty-free music can be used.

All voice-overs and editing must be credited.

70% of the video must be shot underwater.

Entrants must have shot the footage themselves.

All videos must have the relevant details

Name and age of candidate

Year the video was shot

Place and time

Environmental conditions

Device/Camera used

Exposure and/or additional equipment

Videos previously submitted to Blue India should not be re-submitted.

Under 18

Candidates applying for this category must be under 18 as of April 2018.

Entrants can use any camera and lens.

Images submitted under this category must be shot underwater.

Conservation

Can be shot on any camera and lens.

Images submitted under this category need not necessarily be shot underwater. However, they have to depict conservation issues related to marine life and the ocean.

General

Images shot with any camera will be accepted.

Any style of image – wide-angle, macro, etc will be accepted under this category.

Images submitted under this category must be shot underwater.

If using a DSLR, specifications of lens and any modifications (reversing ring, extension tube etc.) should be specified.

Payment for Submissions

INR 500 will be charged for up to three images submitted.

You may submit more than three entries, however an additional INR 500 will be charged for every three images.

Payments can be made directly from our secure website payment gateway.

Wildlife Photography Ethics

Marine life should never be stressed or endangered for the sake of a photo.

Conservation rules will apply to all entries, and decisions will be final.

Entries suspected of exhibiting the following behavior will be disqualified:

Judging Criteria

Sponsors and Prizes

Photography –

Conservation category: The winner of the 1st prize for this category will be winning a combination package from two amazing dive centers in the Andaman Islands.

o Lacadives is one of India’s oldest dive centers with a field base located in the picturesque village of Chidiyatapu. They have a team who put their heart and soul into guiding their guests to experience their underwater world. This year Lacadives is sponsoring six fun dives as a part of the 1st prize for the conservation category.

o Scubalov.in is another dive shop that has carved a niche for itself in the diving space of Havelock Island. The dive shop thrives on the firm belief that no course or dive is ever the same. They try their best to connect with people hoping to pass on their pure love for diving. They will also be sponsoring a fun dive package.

General Category: The 1st prize for this category is being sponsored by The Purple Octopus and MARES Scuba Equipment to bring any diver a great start to owning their own dive gear. In the mix of the gear they are presenting the ideal introductory dive computer,a mask that guarantees you will wont miss a minute of the sights underwater, finds that will allow you to glide on your dive and a rash guard so you look your best while staying protected on your dive.

Under 18 Category: Nestled in the foothills of the Niligiris, Bamboo Banks farm is a small and exclusive guesthouse guaranteed to make you feel at home on your family vacation. Run by the Kothavalas family, they offer the winner of the Under 18 category a two night stay at their exquisite cottages for a family with all meals included.

4 minute Video: Temple Adventures and Pro Scuba India bring a combined package of a dive essentials pack that any diver would love to have which includes a snazzy pair of fins, a mask and snorkel and four fun dives at their center in Pondicherry. With a team that focuses on safety and good clean fun they are sure to bring a whole new perspective of diving to our winner.

Peoples Choice award: Sahasea is a watersport adventure company that is committed to get you swimming, splashing and saving the ocean. Their amazing outfit is based out of Goa and they are offering up a lovely two night stay at their Hollant beach accommodation and a night at Chorao Island and a couple of fun water based activities while you are there with them. This one is a special prize though as any entry into any category of the competition has the chance to win this. This prize is available only to early bird participants who send in their entries before the 23rd of June.

Past Winners

Images

Conservation Category:

1st: Adhith Swaminathan

Macro Category:

1st: Jonah Skoles

Art Category:

1st: Prasad Babu Matta

Special Mention:

Jonah Skoles

Special Mention:

Sachin Khira

Special Mention:

Jhanvi Mahimtura Folmsbee

Wide Angle Category:

1st: Donuran Das

Under 18 Category:

1st: Dheeraj Nanda

Special Mention:

Sachin Khira

Special Mention:

Ahaan Nalavadi

Videos

People’s Choice Award:

Chaitali Gupta

Video Category:

1st: Ashni Parekh

Special Mention:

Tascha Eipe

Jury

Prahlad Kakar

Prahlad Kakar is the Advertising Film Director for Genesis Film Production, one of India’s oldest and foremost ad film production houses since its inception in 1977. Prahlad founded Genesis in 1977 and invented a genre of television advertising in India in the years that followed. Prahlad has ruled the advertising world with his brand of irreverent humour, memorable brain-building campaigns and has created award winning commercials for the most reputed corporates and agencies in India and the Asia Pacific region. After having assisted renowned feature film-maker Shyam Benegal, he moved on to making advertising films. Prahlad is a certified SCUBA diving instructure, successfully running Lacadives, India’s first dive school.

Sumer Verma

Amongst the small fraternity of underwater photographers in the country, Sumer Verma is one of the best. With a portfolio that ranges from wildlife to fashion, Sumer’s skills are at the leading edge of a new breed of imaging in India. As part owner of the Lacadives group of dive centres and as one of India’s leading SCUBA diving instructors, Sumer has spent innumerable hours in and around the sea. Sumer is the recipient of a number of prestigious awards, both national and international, for his creativity in still underwater photography as well as videography. His work has appeared on NDTV and in Outlook Traveler on one end of the spectrum and Vogue on the other – indicative of the range and flexibility in Sumer’s inimitable style. Follow him on Instagram: @luminousdeep

Divia Thani

Divia Thani is editor-in-chief of Condé Nast Traveller, which launched in India in October 2010 to wide acclaim, and is the country’s foremost luxury travel title. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh, where she has returned to since collect the inaugural Sheth International Young Alumni Achievement Award and also as a commencement speaker. A Mumbai native, Divia has been at the forefront of lifestyle publishing in India and part of the core teams to launch international brands such as CN Traveller, Vogue and Time Out in India.Divia has trained extensively in Middle Eastern dance and enjoys travelling and science writing. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @diviathani

Bittu Sahgal

Bittu Sahgal, an environmental activist and writer, is the founding editor of Sanctuary Asia, India’s premier wildlife and ecology magazine. He is a member of the National Board for Wildlife of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. He is also at the forefront of the battle to protect India from the worst impacts of climate change. He has produced over 30 conservation-related documentaries. He contributes regularly to his Blog where he expounds on topical environmental issues. Follow him on Instagram: @bittusahgal

Sponsors

About Us

ReefWatch Marine Conservation is a non-profit organization established in 1993, as a Public Charitable Trust under the Societies Registration Act. ReefWatch is involved in research, education and outreach activities. These have included coral reef monitoring in the Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, documentary films, beach clean ups in Mumbai, SCUBA training for scientists and education programs in schools across the country.